Hunter{3 s glove

ABSTRACT

The glove of the invention embodies a combination of materials having special qualities structured, arranged, and assembled in a novel relation whereby the completed glove ensures warmth of the hand as a whole, a particular flexibility and live feel for the trigger finger, excellent wear resisting and friction maintaining surfaces on the thumb and first three fingers which provide an easily maintained grip of the hand of the hunter upon the firearm or other object held by the user of the glove under adverse conditions caused by low temperature, snow or rain, or other adverse conditions. The glove of this invention, although it is a hunting glove, is not a leather glove. It is not a lined glove, but is a glove made preferably of knitted jersey fabric of 100% acrylic yarn which is inherently stretchable and fits the hand and breathes. The invention resides primarily in the assembly of parts of novel structure and configuration cooperating in a novel manner to provide the qualities and capabilities herein mentioned.

United States Patent 91 1 3,881,197

Andrews May 6, 1975 HUNTERS GLOVE Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin [75]Inventor: warren L. Andrews Chicago In. Attorney, Agent, orFzrm-Johnson, Dienner, Emrich & Wagner [73] Assignee: Wells LamontCorporation,

Chwago, 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Oct. 7, 1974 The glove of the inventionembodies a combination of materials having special qualities structured,arranged, [211 App]' 5l2421 and assembled in a novel relation wherebythe completed glove ensures warmth of the hand as a whole, a [52] US. Cl2/161 A articular flexibility and live feel for the trigger finger, [51]Int. Cl A4ld 19/00 excellent wear resisting and friction maintainingsur- Field of Search 2/159, 161 161 faces on the thumb and first threefingers which pro- 163 vide an easily maintained grip of the hand of thehunter upon the firearm or other object held by the user [56] ReferencesCited of the glove under adverse conditions caused by low UNITED STATESPATENTS temperature, snow or rain, or other adverse condi- 1,260,3683/1918 Girling et al 2/167 F The of this invention althwgh f is a hunt2,342,547 2/1944 Kuehnel 2/169 X ing glove, is not a leather glove. Itis not a lined glove, 2,418,957 4/1947 si 2 1 9 X but is a glove madepreferably of knitted jersey fabric 2,728,082 12/1955 Slimovitz... 2/167of 100% acrylic yarn which is inherently stretchable 3,111,678 1963Slimovitz 2/163 and tits the hand and breathes. The invention resides3,151,335 10/1964 slimovitl 2/169 primarily in the assembly of parts ofnovel structure 3,404,409 10/1968 T111050 at 2/167 X and configurationcooperating in a novel manner to 3,739,400 6/l973 Colehower 2/161 Rprovide the qualities and capabilities herein mentioned.

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAY ems SHEET 1 [1F 2 HUNTERSGLOVE The present invention is directed to the provision of a gloveparticularly adapted to the requirements of a hunter under adverseweather conditions.

PRIOR ART I am aware of prior art attempts to provide a specialconstruction of glove for the hunters use. Such attempts as have come tomy attention indicate a misconception of the actual needs of the hunter.In an attempt to provide a sensitive trigger finger, the prior art hasattempted to provide sensitivity by reducing the thermal protection ofthe trigger finger and has caused the finger thus covered to have anunnatural paper bag feeling which tends to detract from the shootersattention.

U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,151,335; 3,111,678; and 2,728,082 show prior artdevelopments of a glove for hunters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a glove, thecomposition, structure and mode of assembly of which provides a uniqueutility of the fingers and thump for cooperating with the gun stock orother like object, and particularly in maintaining the normal protectionof the thumb and trigger finger but permitting the trigger finger tohave free independent action at all times.

The invention provides local areas consisting of a 100% cotton knittedjersey material provided on its exposed surface, with a pattern ofdeposited adherent dots or papillae of synthetic rubberlike compositionwhich provide a firm friction grip upon the gun stock or other likeobject which the user may elect to hold. The glove of the presentinvention embodying the aforesaid dotted material provides a firmfriction grip upon the gun stock or like objects under adverse weatherconditions which include l cold produced by cold winds or by stillweather of low temperature, (2) snowwet or dry-which would tend to makeinsecure or slippery the hold of the user upon a smooth gun stock orsome other like object, and (3) wet weather-such as rain or wetsnowsince a continuous film of snow or water would tend to be interposedbetween the gun stock and the grasping surfaces of the glove. Such asituation is avoided in the use of the present glove where the solidspherical dots or papillae penetrate the film of snow or moisture andprovide an excellent friction hold on the solid surfaces of the stockand/or trigger regardless of the condition of the surfaces of the gunengaged by this papillated area.

The glove of the present invention provides an assembly of materials ofdiverse qualities which minimize the effect of wetness and/or chillingof the parts of the hands which are most active or essential inmaintaining a secure hold on the gun and, particularly, the part orparts of the hands which are concerned with (l) a firm hold upon thefirearm and (2) a warm and supple trigger finger. A split leather plampatch cooperates in maintaining an easy but effective grip on a slipperygun stock.

The invention provides a hunters glove which can breathe. This isobtained by virtue of the woven base materials of the glove and the dotsof papillae which are interposed between the gripping surfaces of theglove and the parts of the gun engaged by the hand of the hunter. Thefacing material of the finger stalls and thumb stall, which is not perse water-proof, is capable of breathing and does not tend to trapmoisture inside the glove.

The invention provides, in connection with the fingers and thumbinvolved in the delicate operation of sighting and pulling the trigger,a resilient internal layer which distributes the pressure of the triggerhand and finger more evenly over a wider area and thereby gives a smoothfeeling of complete control.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 illustrates on a reduced scalea pair of gloves exposing the palm sides, which gloves embody thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the palm de of the right handglove of the pair shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back elevational view of the right hand glove of the pairshown in FIG. 1 and here shown on the same scale as FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 lookingin the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 lookingin the direction of the arows;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 4looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken through the elastic wrist bandforming the lower part of the glove shown in FIG. 2, this section beingtaken on line 8-8 and looking in the direction of the arrows (thestretch is indicated at 4a in the broken lines of FIG. 10);

FIG. 9 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of the patch orfacing material comprising dots or papillae secured to a knitted jerseybacking which, in turn, is backed by a middle layer of polyurethane foamand an inner layer of nylon flock of loose feltlike consistency;

FIG. 9a is a fragmentary edgewise view of the sheet material utilizedfor the patches of dotted fabric employed on the facing of the thumb andsecond and third fingers and wrap around patch of the first finger shownin front elevation in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 10 is a layout plan view of the component parts of the glove ofFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN IN THE DRAWINGS In FIG. 1 apair of gloves of this invention consisting of a right-hand glove and aleft-hand glove is shown on a reduced scale in front elevation; theright-hand glove-that is, the glove for the right handis illustrated indetail on a larger sscale throughout the remaining Figures of thedrawings and it is to be understood that the left-hand glove is a mirrorimage of the right-hand glove.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-10 inclusive, the glove for the right hand isshown on a larger scale, and the glove is shown in front elevation onFIG. 2. It comprises the main portion of the entire glove consisting ofthe fingers l, the thumb 2, the palm portion 3, and the wrist portion 4.FIG. 3 shows the same glove in rear elevation.

The main one-piece body portion 5 (see FIG. 10) of the glove, which bodyportion comprises the palm portion 3, the back portion 22 and parts 6,7, 8, 9, l0 and l l of the finger portions and thumb portions, ispreferably a single piece of knitted jersey of acrylic yarn, a wellknown fabric warm and pleasant to the touch. The said main body portion5, illustrated in FIG. 10, includes the integral wrap around thumbportion 6, the stub first finger portion 7, middle finger portion 8,third finger portion 9, and the entirety of the little finger portion10.

In assembling the elements of the glove the stub thumb portion 11 of thepattern becomes the lower part of the thumb stall hereinafter generallyreferred to as the thumb of the glove, and the upper inside or ballportion of the thumb is supplied by the insert 12 which is constructedof the dotted fabric illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 9a.

This fabric of FIGS. 9 and 90 comprises a sheet of three layers. Theoutermost or exposed layer 13 consists of a base sheet of stretchablecotton knitted material upon the outer surface of which are depositeddots or papillae 14 (on a spacing of the order of 15 dots per linealinch) which dots are composed of a plastic, artificial rubberlikematerial deposited as generally spherical drops or granules in plasticadhesive condition upon the surface of the base cotton knitted jerseymaterial 13 to which it is bonded and firmly adheres. Upon the back(inside, in each case) of the dotted material 13 there is a middle layer15 of a polyurethane foam approximately one-eighth inch thick. This foamlayer 15 is soft and spongy and bonds to the back of the dot coveredjersey material and to an inner layer 16 which is made up of fibrousnylon flock. This provides a combination fabric which feels soft andcompressible.

The back or outside body part 17 of the thumb stall consists of agenerally oval piece 17 (FIG. 10) of the same knitted jersey fabricmaterial of which the body 5 of the glove is composed.

The front face of the thumb stallthat is, the part facing thefingerscomprises the dotted grasping surface on the ball of the thumbconsisting of the part 12 which bears papillae (as per the structureshown in FIGS. 9 and 9a), and the edges of the main body part 6 aresewed to the edges of the papilla faced insert 12. The part 6 of themain body 5, lying to the right of the thumb base in FIG. 10, is foldedto the left in FIG. 10 to establish the position of the body of thethumb stall 17. The dotted insert 12 has its upper edge 18 (FIG. 10)sewed to the adjacent lower edge of the depending thumb portion 11, andthe two parts 11 and 12 are swung upwardly to provide the part of thethumb stall which faces the palm and fingers of the hand in this case,the right hand.

The dotted faced gripping portion (part 12) of the thumb stall which isfaced with the papillae is sewed to the lower end of the dependingportion 11 shown in FIG. 10 and the two parts together are swungupwardly and their edges joined to the edges of the piece 17 which isthe back or outside part of the thumb stall. Thereby the dotted grippingpart 12 for the inwaardly facing upper end of the thumb extends over theupper or ball part of the thumb and joins the knitted body portion 3 ofthe palm side of the glove at the short projecting part 11 and leavesthat outwardly facing back region of the thumb covered with the knittedlayer of the body of the glove and avoids either a seam or a bunching ofthe material in the crotch of the thumb. The finger stall 18 for thefirst finger comprises a complete wrap around thimble-Iike cover 23(FIG. 1) for the outer end of the first finger of the hand, covering notsubstantially more than the two outer joints of the first finger ofwhich, in the normal use of the glove, only the outermost one or twojoints would engage the trigger of the firearm for firing the piece. Thedotted material enclosing the outer end of the first finger is closed bya longitudinal seam 19 shown in cross section in FIG. 4 and in elevationin FIG. 5, which seam extends over the end of the finger as in FIG. 5.

The second and third fingers20 and 21 respectively-of the glove arecovered on their front or palm side with the above described dottedfabric (FIG. 4) and the fourth finger of the glove comprises a coveringof only the knitted jersey material which forms the main body of theglove.

The back of the glove, as illustrated in FIG. 3, comprises a unitarybody piece 22 of the knitted acrylic yarn above referred to, exceptingonly the wrap around outer end of the first finger which, as aboveexplained, comprises the three-ply externally dotted material above themiddle joint of the first finger. This means that the pull on thetrigger is exerted through the dotted three-ply material which is softand flexible. Squeezing the trigger is a requisite to accurate shootingand the present construction is conductive to that mode of use.

The ball of the thumb 2, as illustrated in FIG. 7, is faced with thedotted acrylic material which provides an excellent grip which is warmand flexible.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the facing of the dotted materialover the ball of the thumb likewise provides a warm, soft and drycovering for the thumb and gives a non-slip gripping surface cooperatingwith like portions of the fingers of the hand.

The wrist portion 4 is composed of a band of what is commonly known aselastic web wrist material, and it serves the function of keeping theglove on the hand, and closing with low pressure per unit area, theconnection between the closed body of the glove and the wrist of thewearer. The stretchabillity of the fabric of band 4 is indicated inbroken lines in FIG. 10.

A leather palm patch 24 is extended across the palm of the hand in aslightly downwardly inclined direction from the first finger joint tothe rear edge of the palmthat is, adjacent the little finger. This palmpatch 24 is stitched to the jersey body of the glove, across the plamand also at the ends. This patch across the palm is made of splitleatherthat is, it exposes the fibers or flesh side of the leather whichhas been found to be superior to grain leather for providing frictionalengagement, particularly when snow or moisture is present.

The dotted material comprises a rubberlike resin utilizing separate dotsspaced to present approximately 15 dots per lineal inch in eachdirection. These deformable dots or granules, deposited as individualdrops on a knitted cotton material, are highly effective to provide agood grip because of the high coefficient of friction. Consequntly, afirearm may be held firmly without requiring excessive and tiresomepressure.

I claim:

1. In a glove of the class described the combination of a hollow knittedpalm portion, a plurality of hollow knitted tubular finger sections anda thumb section, said sections being joined to the palm portion, thefirst finger section of the palm portion being tubular and extendingfrom the palm portion to a point substantially at the second joint ofthe first finger of the hand to be covered, a finger stall closed at itsouter end and substantially covering the two outermost joints of saidfirst finger and being joined to the aforesaid knitted first fingerportion, said last-named joint being adapted to lie substantially at theinnermost end of the second joint of the first finger of the users hand,said first finger stall comprising stretchable walls adapted to coverthe two outer joints of the trigger finger and having a granulatedsurface of adherent particles overlying the first and second joints ofthe occupying finger.

2. In a glove of the class described, the combination of a hollowknitted jersey body portion having an elastic tubular wrist portion atits lower end and having generally parallel tubular finger stalls closedat their outer ends and joined at their inner ends to and communicatingwith the hollow body portion, a tubular thumb stall closed at its outerend and having its lower end joined to and communicating with said bodyportion, the first finger stallcomprising a cot for receiving the firsttwo joints from the outer closed end and terminating at the next to theoutermost joint of the first finger of the hand of the user, said cotbeing constructed of a base fabric of knitted jersey cloth with closelyspaced dots of solid elastic synthetic gum adherent to the outer surfaceand being lined with a layer of polyurethane foam adherent to the innersurface of said fabric and an inner layer of nylon flock.

3. A glove of the class described having a palm portion of knittedjersey, finger stalls and a thumb stall joined to the palm portion, thecombination of a trigger finger stall having a tubular base portionwhich is adapted to lie adjacent to and beyond the first knuckle of thehand of the wearer, said stall comprising a knitted tubular fingerportion the lower end of which is adapted to be a continuation of and tobe joined to the palm portion of the glove, the outer end of saidtrigger finger stall being closed, and said stall having its lower endjoined circumferentially to lie adjacent the connection between thefirst joint and the second joint of the occupying trigger finger.

4. A glove comprising a central tubular palm portion of knitted jersey,a tubular elastic wrist portion joined at its upper edges to the lowerend of said tubular palm portion, said palm portion including a tubularextension at one side of the palm portion, a thumb stall closed at itsouter end and having an inner open end joined to the palm portion, saidthumb stall comprising a front portion integral with the tubular palmportion and comprising a duplex front portion consisting of an outerwear resisting insert joined at its edges to the margins of the openingin the aforesaid side of said thumb stall and a layer of resilientfibrous material on the inside of said duplex front portion.

5. The glove of claim 1 wherein the thumb section includes a patchcovering the face of the thumb, said patch consisting of an outer knitpiece faced with adherent resin dots and an inner fibrous elasticbacking.

6. The glove of claim 5 with a diagonal strip of leather, with the fiberside exposed, extending diagonally across the palm of the hand and overthe front edge of the palm portion for engaging a gun stock gripped inthe gloved hand.

7. A glove according to claim 5 wherein the middle finger stall of theglove comprises a wear and friction facing comprising a longitudinalstrip on the inside face of the glove, said strip comprising a knittedfabric having closely spaced elastic papillae deposited thereon andhaving an adjacent layer of elastic foam attached thereto on the insideface of said strip.

8. The glove of claim 5 wherein two finger stalls for the second andthird fingers, respectively, of the glove are continuous across thecrotch of said fingers.

9. The glove of claim 8 wherein the backs of the fourth, third, secondand the lower joint of the first finger are unitary with the front ofthe palm portion of the glove and the junction of the edges of the frontand back of the glove occurs at the rear edge of the palm portion and atthe rear edge of the fourth finger.

10. A hunting glove comprising a main body portior of knitted jerseycotton with attached thumb and finger stalls faced with dotted clothcomprising knitted shee material faced with closely spaced dots of solidrubberlike plastic resin backed by a layer of polyurethane foam.

11. The glove of claim 10 wherein said layer of polyurethane foam iscovered by a layer of nylon flock t render the surface of the foamnon-sticky.

1. In a glove of the class described the combination of a hollow knittedpalm portion, a plurality of hollow knitted tubular finger sections anda thumb section, said sections being joined to the palm portion, thefirst finger section of the palm portion being tubular and extendingfrom the palm portion to a point substantially at the second joint ofthe first finger of the hand to be covered, a finger stall closed at itsouter end and substantially covering the two outermost joints of saidfirst finger and being joined to the aforesaid knitted first fingerportion, said last-named joint being adapted to lie substantially at theinnermost end of the second joint of the first finger of the user''shand, said first finger stall comprising stretchable walls adapted tocover the two outer joints of the trigger finger and having a granulatedsurface of adherent particles overlying the first and second joints ofthe occupying finger.
 2. In a glove of the class described, thecombination of a hollow knitted jersey body portion having an elastictubular wrist portion at its lower end and having generally paralleltubular finger stalls closed at their outer ends and joined At theirinner ends to and communicating with the hollow body portion, a tubularthumb stall closed at its outer end and having its lower end joined toand communicating with said body portion, the first finger stallcomprising a cot for receiving the first two joints from the outerclosed end and terminating at the next to the outermost joint of thefirst finger of the hand of the user, said cot being constructed of abase fabric of knitted jersey cloth with closely spaced dots of solidelastic synthetic gum adherent to the outer surface and being lined witha layer of polyurethane foam adherent to the inner surface of saidfabric and an inner layer of nylon flock.
 3. A glove of the classdescribed having a palm portion of knitted jersey, finger stalls and athumb stall joined to the palm portion, the combination of a triggerfinger stall having a tubular base portion which is adapted to lieadjacent to and beyond the first knuckle of the hand of the wearer, saidstall comprising a knitted tubular finger portion the lower end of whichis adapted to be a continuation of and to be joined to the palm portionof the glove, the outer end of said trigger finger stall being closed,and said stall having its lower end joined circumferentially to lieadjacent the connection between the first joint and the second joint ofthe occupying trigger finger.
 4. A glove comprising a central tubularpalm portion of knitted jersey, a tubular elastic wrist portion joinedat its upper edges to the lower end of said tubular palm portion, saidpalm portion including a tubular extension at one side of the palmportion, a thumb stall closed at its outer end and having an inner openend joined to the palm portion, said thumb stall comprising a frontportion integral with the tubular palm portion and comprising a duplexfront portion consisting of an outer wear resisting insert joined at itsedges to the margins of the opening in the aforesaid side of said thumbstall and a layer of resilient fibrous material on the inside of saidduplex front portion.
 5. The glove of claim 1 wherein the thumb sectionincludes a patch covering the face of the thumb, said patch consistingof an outer knit piece faced with adherent resin dots and an innerfibrous elastic backing.
 6. The glove of claim 5 with a diagonal stripof leather, with the fiber side exposed, extending diagonally across thepalm of the hand and over the front edge of the palm portion forengaging a gun stock gripped in the gloved hand.
 7. A glove according toclaim 5 wherein the middle finger stall of the glove comprises a wearand friction facing comprising a longitudinal strip on the inside faceof the glove, said strip comprising a knitted fabric having closelyspaced elastic papillae deposited thereon and having an adjacent layerof elastic foam attached thereto on the inside face of said strip. 8.The glove of claim 5 wherein two finger stalls for the second and thirdfingers, respectively, of the glove are continuous across the crotch ofsaid fingers.
 9. The glove of claim 8 wherein the backs of the fourth,third, second and the lower joint of the first finger are unitary withthe front of the palm portion of the glove and the junction of the edgesof the front and back of the glove occurs at the rear edge of the palmportion and at the rear edge of the fourth finger.
 10. A hunting glovecomprising a main body portion of knitted jersey cotton with attachedthumb and finger stalls faced with dotted cloth comprising knitted sheetmaterial faced with closely spaced dots of solid rubberlike plasticresin backed by a layer of polyurethane foam.
 11. The glove of claim 10wherein said layer of polyurethane foam is covered by a layer of nylonflock to render the surface of the foam non-sticky.